One of the most beloved and highest profile American entertainers of the 20th Century, singer/actress/author Pearl Bailey spent over 50 years of her life on stage, in films, on TV and in record studios. Hers was the very definition of a prolific career, and one that brought her international fame in every area where she chose to leave her imprint.

Even though her chart success was small, Pearl's vocal talent was large and she was never without a recording contract for the whole of the 1950s and beyond. Jasmine's new 2CD set brings together as many of Pearls' recordings from the 50s as we could cram in - five complete albums, in fact, that show her larger than life personality off to the full.

Pearl was never about hit records - although her biggest chart success 'Takes Two To Tango' inevitably features here - but she sold a lot of long players and her singing career was perpetually an extension of her brash and frequently bawdy personality, which spills cheerfully out of the grooves of every track here.

A long overdue tribute to a genuine entertainment legend, 'Pearls' is perhaps the definitive collection of 'Pearlie Mae' featuring, as it does, a great many tracks that are totally new to UK CD - all remastered, as always, from the finest available sources!

Track Listing

Disc 1

SAY 'SI SI'1. SAY 'SI SI'2. CIRIBIRIBIN3. STRIKE WHILE THE IRON'S HOT4. I LOVE MY ARGENTINE5. FERNANDEEZ OF THE ANDES6. ALLA EN EL RANCHO GRANDE7. I WOULDN'T WALK ACROSS THE STREET8. SHE'S SOMETHING SPANISHI'M WITH YOU9. TAKES TWO TO TANGO10. LET THERE BE LOVE11. MY IDEAL12. TOOT TOOT TOOTSIE (Goodbye)13. NOTHING14. 8TH STREET ASSOCIATION15. THE BIRTH OF THE BLUES16. I HEARDPEARL BAILEY17. THAT'S GRATITUDE18. SOMEBODY ELSE NOT ME19. IT'LL GET WORSE20. WHEN YOUR GUY IS GONE21. DRUNK WITH LOVE22. CHANGEABLE YOU23. I AIN'T GOT NOBODY AND NOBODY CARES FOR ME24. NOBODY25. RUNNIN' WILDCULTURED PEARL26. BIG WORDS27. ME AND MY SHADOW28. WHAT'S HAPPENED TO THE HAIR (On The Head Of The Man I Love)29. HE MAY BE YOUR MAN30. I CRIED FOR YOU31. I ALWAYS SHAKE THE TREE

Disc 2

1. HE'S GONEGEMS BY PEARL BAILEY2. AS LONG AS I LIVE3. HUG ME A HUG (Kiss Me A Kiss)4. WORLD WEARY5. NOTHIN' NOTHIN' BABY (Without You)THE ONE AND ONLY PEARL BAILEY SINGS6. A PORTER'S LOVE SONG TO A CHAMBERMAID7. A MAN IS A NECESSARY EVIL8. THE GYPSY GOOFED9. MY MAN10. YOU WAITED TOO LONG11. SWEET GEORGIA BROWN12. EASY STREET13. I CAN'T ROCK 'N' ROLL TO SAVE MY SOUL14. THERE'S A MAN IN MY LIFE15. EVERYBODY LOVES MY BABY16. THERE'S PLENTY MORE WHERE THAT CAME FROM17. THAT'S MY WEAKNESS NOWTHE INTOXICATING PEARL BAILEY18. I'M GONNA KEEP ON DOIN' WHAT I'M DOIN'19. I'VE TAKEN A FANCY TO YOU20. HERE YOU COME WITH LOVE21. THAT'S WHAT YOU THINK22. CALL ME AGAIN WHEN YOU'RE IN TOWN23. IT FIGURES24. THE SAGA OF MY LIFE25. WHAT WILL WE DO ON SUNDAY26. YOU'VE GOT IT MADE27. WHO ME? I'D LOVE IT28. EMPTY HOUSE BLUES29. LOVE 'IM, LOVE 'IM, LOVE 'IM